7 overvalued players you should draft with caution

Every season, there are a handful of players whose draft stock gets artificially inflated — whether it’s because of unrealistic expectations or unusual preseason exploits.

Thankfully, we’re here to point out some of those overvalued players. You shouldn’t necessarily take them off your draft list, but be sure to weigh all your options when these guys are the highest-ranked players remaining on the board. (ADP numbers courtesy of FantasyFootballCalculator.com)

1. RB Bishop Sankey, Tennessee Titans (ADP: 50) — Sankey was the first running back taken in this year’s draft, but he has yet to work with the first-team offense in any preseason game. Shonn Greene and Dexter McCluster shouldn’t be very difficult hurdles to overcome in the battle for playing time. Just don’t count on Sankey to be in your starting lineup all season long.

2. WR DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins (ADP: 56) — Jackson was one of the reasons Nick Foles posted such ridiculous numbers with the Eagles last season. The oft-injured Jackson also managed to play all 16 games on his way to career highs in receptions (82), yards (1,332) and touchdowns (9, tie). As a newcomer in a newly installed Jay Gruden offense, it’s hard to see him thriving — especially with Pierre Garcon entrenched as Griffin’s go-to guy.

3. TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (ADP: 59) — His big playoff performances stick in the memory banks, but Davis is just as likely to disappear in this run-heavy offense. He only caught 52 passes last season, but 13 of them were for touchdowns. That ratio is extremely difficult to repeat.

5. WR Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints (ADP: 74) — Last week, Cooks’ ADP surged ahead of fellow Saints wideout Marques Colston’s. That’s the same Colston who has over 600 NFL receptions and 63 TDs — after coming into the league the same year the Saints acquired quarterback Drew Brees. It will take time for the rookie to develop the chemistry Colston and Brees have. Big plays will come, but owners are expecting too much, too soon out of the 5-10, 189-pound Cooks.

6. RB Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots (ADP: 75) – Despite his 19 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons, Ridley has been in and out of coach Bill Belichick’s dog house for his fumbling issues (4 each in 2012 and 2013). After getting only 11 snaps in Friday’s preseason game, there’s speculation Ridley might not even be part of the team’s final 53-man roster.

7. D/ST Seattle Seahawks (ADP: 92) — An eighth-round pick for a DEFENSE? What kind of world are we living in? The 49ers may be even more ridiculous with their heavy injury losses and 111 ADP, but the idea of drafting a defense before even grabbing one skill player for your bench is utterly ridiculous. Yes, the Seahawks allowed the fewest points and forced the most turnovers in the NFL on their way to a Super Bowl title … but last year fantasy owners uncovered the likes of Fred Jackson, Knowshon Moreno, Michael Floyd and Alshon Jeffery in the eighth round or later.